I really liked this book. I respect Alan Greenspan a lot and think he's amazing.

He divided this book up very nicely. The first part of the book coverI really liked this book. I respect Alan Greenspan a lot and think he's amazing.

He divided this book up very nicely. The first part of the book covers his entire personal and professional history.

The next part of the book covers different geographical sections. As a former student of Latin American studies (was my minor in college), I was really interested to read the section about LA and how much trouble they have had going to a free market system.

The next part was about different economic issues. I had to admit that even though I have had some economics, some of this went over my head. I was really interested to read about his pov on globalization and outsourcing.

"The Hummingbird's Daughter" is a historical fiction story of Teresita, the Saint of Cabora. Teresita starts her life as the bastard child of the Humm"The Hummingbird's Daughter" is a historical fiction story of Teresita, the Saint of Cabora. Teresita starts her life as the bastard child of the Hummingbird (Cayetana) and the rich Don Tomas. As a teenager, Don Tomas finally accepts her as his daughter. After an unfortunate event, Teresita appears to be dead but suddenly wakes up during her own funeral preparations. She then begins to perform miracles.

This book reads like a sweeping movie but is based on a real person....more

This book covers 100 years in the life of various members of the Buendia family in the town of Macondo, Colombia. I had read Love in the Time of CholeThis book covers 100 years in the life of various members of the Buendia family in the town of Macondo, Colombia. I had read Love in the Time of Cholera prior to this and suspect I was expecting the same sort of story. This book is quite different. It has a lot more magical realism elements to it but it is difficult to understand the flow of time throughout the book. It was an interesting read but not my favorite....more

Garcia is best known for his works "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude." This book is a memoir that tells of his life inGarcia is best known for his works "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude." This book is a memoir that tells of his life in Colombia both before and after he became the world reknowned author that he is today. He tells a lot of stories from his life and even gives some insight into how he came up with his stories. The book can be a little dry at times but is definitely an interesting biography and memoir....more

This book opens a world of fish that fall from the sky and talking cats and makes it all seem realistic. This story is innovative and will keep you reThis book opens a world of fish that fall from the sky and talking cats and makes it all seem realistic. This story is innovative and will keep you reading until the very end. Some parts of the story are pretty graphic but if you can get through those parts, the story is fantastic....more

This is a case where the writing is good but the story just drags and drags. This story follows the story of Quoyle, a guy who is going nowhere fast.This is a case where the writing is good but the story just drags and drags. This story follows the story of Quoyle, a guy who is going nowhere fast. His wife leaves him with their two young children and Quoyle decides to move to Newfoundland with his aunt and then a whole lot of nothing happens....more

I received this book for free at a conference that I attended a few years ago. The author promised that her research was groundbreaking. Sadly all ofI received this book for free at a conference that I attended a few years ago. The author promised that her research was groundbreaking. Sadly all of her research simply showed what was common sense to me in really bad writing. Sigh... pass on this one....more

This was a great story. The narrator is a 17 year old girl but she speaks with a voice much wiser than her age. Cassandra lives in a run down castle wThis was a great story. The narrator is a 17 year old girl but she speaks with a voice much wiser than her age. Cassandra lives in a run down castle with her family. She practices her writing and in the end, she truly captures the castle....more

I really enjoyed this book. It follows several people between India and the United States. It covers some of the ethnic conflict in India. I had to loI really enjoyed this book. It follows several people between India and the United States. It covers some of the ethnic conflict in India. I had to look up some of the background on some of the conflicts because I was not very familiar with it. It's the story of globalization and the ties that bind us all together. It's definitely a good read....more

This book was really, really difficult to get into. I just couldn't do it. George Meredith knew the woman that he based the vivacious Diana off of. MeThis book was really, really difficult to get into. I just couldn't do it. George Meredith knew the woman that he based the vivacious Diana off of. Meh, I just couldn't finish it....more

I really liked this book. Richard Rodriguez is a Mexican American and the book covers a lot of different topics about the area around the border betweI really liked this book. Richard Rodriguez is a Mexican American and the book covers a lot of different topics about the area around the border between the US and Mexico. Even though this book was written almost 20 years ago, a lot of the topics are still pertinent today.

My favorite chapters are about Tijuana, the Castro district in San Fran and the Missions of Southern California. All these chapters discuss the clash between American and Mexican culture. Definitely a good read for anyone that is interested in Mexican American culture....more

This is a really fantastic book. I loved it from the very first page. Elizabeth Gilbert travels in Italy, India, and Indonesia in order to put herselfThis is a really fantastic book. I loved it from the very first page. Elizabeth Gilbert travels in Italy, India, and Indonesia in order to put herself back together again after a messy divorce. She finds spirituality and this idea is at the core of her journey. Gilbert writes in a way that keeps you reading....more

This is the first book that F. Scott Fitzgerald ever published and he published it just out of college. The book follows Amory, a young man, making hiThis is the first book that F. Scott Fitzgerald ever published and he published it just out of college. The book follows Amory, a young man, making his way through college at Princeton (one can see that the story kind of mirrors Scott's own story). It follows his loves and the losses of those loves. While not his best work, it's definitely a good read....more

This book contained four short stories by Capote. I initially bought the book for the story, Breakfast at Tiffany's but was thrilled by the story, TheThis book contained four short stories by Capote. I initially bought the book for the story, Breakfast at Tiffany's but was thrilled by the story, The Christmas Wish. It's a beautiful story and this collection is worth reading simply based on that story alone. ...more

This book follows Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard who are probably the two least known wives of the infamous Henry VIII. Anne comes to England asThis book follows Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard who are probably the two least known wives of the infamous Henry VIII. Anne comes to England as a young woman under an alliance between her conniving brother and the King. She is married to the king and later the wedding is annulled as the King's eye is taken by the young Katherine Howard. This was one of my favorite Philippa Gregory books that I have read....more

I definitely enjoyed this book. I love Gregory's historical novels. I did not know too much about Katherine of Aragon's life before she married HenryI definitely enjoyed this book. I love Gregory's historical novels. I did not know too much about Katherine of Aragon's life before she married Henry VIII. In some of the other books I've read by Gregory including my favorite "The Other Boleyn Girl", Katherine was a peripheral character who didn't seem to play much of a role in the book. Katherine is a very likable character. The only thing I didn't like is the book seemed to jump around a lot. It's still a good read though....more

I really liked this book. It was one of my more favorite books of Jodi Picoult's. Delia lives an idyllic life in New Hampshire with her daughter, frieI really liked this book. It was one of my more favorite books of Jodi Picoult's. Delia lives an idyllic life in New Hampshire with her daughter, friends and father. She believes that her mother died when she was younger. One day, the police come to her father's door to arrest him for apparently kidnapping a young child some 20 something years ago. Delia finds out that she was the kidnapped child. ...more

This book had a lot of promise. It's historical fiction (one of my favorite genres)and takes place in 19th century Japan (interesting, no?). UnfortunaThis book had a lot of promise. It's historical fiction (one of my favorite genres)and takes place in 19th century Japan (interesting, no?). Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed in the book. It took the story arc very seriously: started out slow, middle was good, and the end dragged on for. ev. er. Although the book covers many years in the lives of Aurelia (Urako) and the Shin family, I never really got the feeling that I really knew the characters. There was so much more room for character development. It's unfortunate....more

This book was a little hard to get into but I am glad that I saw it through to the end. It tells the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber whoseThis book was a little hard to get into but I am glad that I saw it through to the end. It tells the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber whose life is saved by villagers in a small village in Pakistan. He is inspired to build schools in that region. It was very cool to see how far a little inspiration took this man....more

I enjoyed this book very much. It is about a girl growing up in 19th century China. In those days, girls could be paired up with one another as laotoI enjoyed this book very much. It is about a girl growing up in 19th century China. In those days, girls could be paired up with one another as laotongs or old sames. They would be friends on the deepest of levels. This story is about that relationship between two particular girls and the misunderstandings in a friendship that can happen if one is not careful. The characters are real and likable. The story is gripping.

If you like historical fiction, I most definitely suggest this book....more

I had a little bit of hard time getting into this classic novel but once I got into it, I found it very funny and I found myself wishing that there weI had a little bit of hard time getting into this classic novel but once I got into it, I found it very funny and I found myself wishing that there were more writers out there who could write like Joseph Heller....more

I had been meaning to read this classic for awhile. It's the story of an Ibo tribesman over a large chunk of his lifetime. I enjoyed it because it gavI had been meaning to read this classic for awhile. It's the story of an Ibo tribesman over a large chunk of his lifetime. I enjoyed it because it gave me some insight into a culture that I did not know much about before I read this book. The story and the characters were interesting but it was very hard to keep track of the names of the characters for any except for the main character....more

Let me say first that I really enjoy Jodi Picoult. I think she's a great writer but I really have only read most of her later work. This was one of thLet me say first that I really enjoy Jodi Picoult. I think she's a great writer but I really have only read most of her later work. This was one of the earliest books of hers that I have tackled and needless to say, I was disappointed. If you want to read something good by her go for "The Tenth Circle" or "My Sister's Keeper."

This book is dry and uninteresting. The characters are vapid and unrealistic....more

I like strong characters and the main character in this book just really didn't do it for me. Paige spends the whole book trying to run away from herI like strong characters and the main character in this book just really didn't do it for me. Paige spends the whole book trying to run away from her problems. She leaves her home because she gets pregnant as a teenager and has an abortion. She marries the first guy that comes along, an ambitious doctor, to get away from her problems. She runs away from her husband and her infant son to get away from more problems. ...more

On the outside, anthropologist Cassie and actor Alex seem to have a perfect and glamorous relationship. Alex begins to beat Cassie. She tries to escapOn the outside, anthropologist Cassie and actor Alex seem to have a perfect and glamorous relationship. Alex begins to beat Cassie. She tries to escape and somehow ends up with amnesia only to go back to Alex, forgetting the pain of the relationship before. She begins to remember the pain and well... you'll just have to see what happens :)...more

This is probably one of the better books I've read from Jodi Picoult. The story centers on Katie, an unwed Amish girl, who is accused of killing her oThis is probably one of the better books I've read from Jodi Picoult. The story centers on Katie, an unwed Amish girl, who is accused of killing her own child. The story follows the supposed crime from the committing of it all the way to the trial. It's definitely an interesting read....more

I couldn't really get into this book. It had too much going on in it. There were a couple of different story lines to follow. One was about a guy whoI couldn't really get into this book. It had too much going on in it. There were a couple of different story lines to follow. One was about a guy who had almost died three times and became a paranormal surveyor. There was another line about a woman who had a husband who was one of the leaders of the eugenics movement back before WWII. She's mysterious killed and the evidence points to her husband as he had just found out that she is half native american....more

As almost always, Picoult brings another ethical consideration to light for consideration. In this story, a woman finds that the person who supposedlyAs almost always, Picoult brings another ethical consideration to light for consideration. In this story, a woman finds that the person who supposedly killed her husband and her daughter and is on death row would like to give his heart to her other daughter who suffers from a heart condition that could one day prove fatal. The woman must decide whether or not to accept the heart. ...more

David McCullough is one of my favorite historical writers. He breathes new life into all of his books. 1776 should be essential reading for every AmerDavid McCullough is one of my favorite historical writers. He breathes new life into all of his books. 1776 should be essential reading for every American. It gives a lot of good insight into the birth of the country....more

I could not get into this book at all. The author seemed to think that most of the readers of the book would have a good background in the history ofI could not get into this book at all. The author seemed to think that most of the readers of the book would have a good background in the history of gypsies, which I do not. I found myself very lost....more